UK government aims to ban smoking outside schools and hospitals

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Adults could be banned from smoking in children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals in the UK under new legislation aimed at phasing out smoking entirely for the next generation.

The government’s tobacco and vapes bill, which will be laid before parliament on Tuesday, will give ministers powers to extend indoor smoking bans to some outdoor settings where children’s health is at risk.

The government will consult on using these powers to widen curbs on smoking inside to cover children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals. Smoking in these locations has been banned in Wales since 2021.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has, however, rowed back on proposals to ban smoking in pub gardens and the outdoor areas of clubs, plans that had faced severe pushback from industry bodies.

The legislation will phase out the sale of tobacco products across the UK to anyone aged 15 or younger this year, with the aim of creating a smoke-free generation and ultimately phasing out the addictive habit altogether.

It forms part of the government’s ambition to shift the focus of healthcare measures towards prevention rather than waiting until sickness needs treating. 

The legislation is broadly based on a previous plan by former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak to ban smoking by anyone in the UK born after 2009.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said that “unless we act to help people stay healthy, the rising tide of ill-health in our society threatens to overwhelm and bankrupt our NHS”.

“By building a healthy society, we will also help to build a healthy economy, with fewer people off work sick,” he added.

Around 80,000 people die a year as a result of smoking, according to the health department. It also significantly increases the risk of serious health problems, including strokes and dementia.

Still, Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said she was “pleased the government has listened to and acted on the sector’s concerns” by opting not to ban smoking in pub and club gardens.

The bill, if passed, will ban all advertising and sponsorship for vaping products, as well as create new powers to restrict the flavours, display and packaging of all types of vapes, in an effort to prevent children becoming hooked.

The government also said it was considering extending bans on vaping to areas where smoking bans already operate, and would look to consult on these proposals.

Disposable vapes are set to be banned from June next year under separate environmental legislation.